“I have come here to see the Chief Electoral Officer about the strong complaint of the election office stopping our government’s KALIA scheme for these farmers. This is most unfortunate as they haven’t stopped the agricultural scheme of the central government. Also, the scheme (KALIA) is very important for the farmers particularly during this season when they required those ones desperately,” said Patnaik while speaking to the newsmen after meeting the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha.

“I am also very disappointed to see that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has complained to the Election Commission about the KALIA scheme. The farmers will give them a befitting reply,” he added.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Odisha unit of the saffron party on March 13 met the Chief Electoral Officer accusing the state ruling party of violating the model code of conduct through its KALIA scheme, following which the scheme has been stalled.

Later on April 5, a delegation of the BJD accompanied with a group of farmer leaders submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi requesting him to lift the restriction on distribution of financial assistance to farmers of the state under KALIA scheme.